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 | Low-Cost Shipping Solutions for Packages with a Short Trip |
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| Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes are a low-cost shipping alternative for commercial and online customers currently using either Priority Mail or Merchandise Return Service. This service combines the speed and convenience of shipping with zone pricing to reduce costs. Regional Rate Boxes are best utilized for small, dense packages being shipped short distances that need to arrive in 2-3 days. |
Priority Mail Regional Rate Box™ Service
| General Information | How will I be able to use Priority Mail Regional Rate Box™ Service? | What are the box types for Priority Mail Regional Rate Box? | Pricing |
General Information
- What is Priority Mail Regional Rate Box™?
Priority Mail Regional Rate Box is a new economical offering for small dense packages that is available for Priority Mail® commercial and Priority Mail Merchandise Return Service parcels. This service will be starting on January 2, 2011. Two box sizes Regional Rate Box A and Regional Rate Box B are available with two loading options. Prices for the product are based on box used and zone. USPS®-produced packaging required.
- How can customers order the Priority Mail Regional Rate Box™?
The Priority Mail Regional Rate Box may be ordered online by providing the appropriate designated alpha identifier of either “A” or “B” at www.usps.com/shop or by calling Expedited Packaging Supplies at 1-800-610-8734. The box identifier distinguishes which box is being ordered.
- Is the Priority Mail Regional Rate Box™ available at retail?
No. The Priority Mail Regional Rate Box is not available for customers at retail Post Office™ locations. Customers using Business Reply Mail® or Parcel Return Service (PRS) are also not eligible to use this product.
How will I be able to use Priority Mail Regional Rate Box™ Service?
- What are the qualifications for the use of Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes™?
Customers must use a USPS®-produced Priority Mail Regional Rate Box and be a commercial customer or online shipper (i.e. Click-N-Ship®, Endicia.com, Stamps.com, etc).
- How is postage calculated for a Priority Mail Regional Rate Box™?
Postage is calculated based on the use of either the Priority Mail Regional Rate Box A or B and the appropriate zone.
- What extra services are available for a Priority Mail Regional Rate Box™?
All extra services that are available for Priority Mail® may be used with a Priority Mail Regional Rate Box.
- Do Commercial Base and Commercial Plus Pricing customers need to qualify for the annual volume threshold for Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes™?
No. Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes are available for both Priority Mail Commercial Base and Commercial Plus Pricing customers and they do not require an annual volume threshold (permit imprint requirement of 200 pieces or 50 pounds still apply).
- Can I apply my volume counts for Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes™ to my Priority Mail Commercial Plus Pricing threshold?
Yes. The new annual volume threshold is 75,000.
There are two Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes that have a designated alpha identifier of either “A” and “B”. The two boxes include two loading options and indicate the maximum weight:
- Box A (top loading or side loading) has a 15-pound maximum weight limit.
- Box B (top loading or side loading) has a 20-pound maximum weight limit.
Pricing
- What is the price of a Priority Mail Regional Rate Box™ if it exceeds the maximum weight of the box or if used by a retail customer?
Priority Mail retail single-piece prices will be assessed based on weight and zone.
- Are the Priority Mail Regional Rate Box™ prices available to existing Priority Mail® commercial or online customers?
Yes. Priority Mail Regional Rate Box prices are available to the following customers:
Priority Mail Regional Rate Box - A1
Format: Pack of 25
Item No: RRB-A1
Inside Dimensions: 10” x 7” x 4 3/4” Outside Dimensions: 10 1/8” x 7 1/8” x 5” Maximum Weight: 15 lbs
Priority Mail Regional Rate Box - A2
Format: Pack of 25
Item No: RRB-A2
Inside Dimensions: 10 15/16” x 2 3/8” x 12 13/ 16” Outside Dimensions: 11 1/16” x 2 1/2” x 13 1/16” Maximum Weight: 15 lbs
Priority Mail Regional Rate Box - B1
Format: Pack of 25
Item No: RRB-B1
Inside Dimensions: 12” x 10 1/4” x 5” Outside Dimensions: 12 1/4” x 10 1/2” x 5 1/2” Maximum Weight: 20 lbs
Priority Mail Regional Rate Box - B2
Format: Pack of 25
Item No: RRB-B2
Priority Mail Regional Rate Box - B2
Format: Pack of 25
Item No: RRB-B2
Inside Dimensions: 14 3/8” x 2 2/8” x 15 7/8” Outside Dimensions: 14 1/2” x 3” x 16 1/4” Maximum weight: 20 lbs
Priority Mail Regional Rate Box Commercial Base Prices
Pricing (Commercial Base Prices) (Zone lookup)
Boxes | L 1 2 | Zone 3 | Zone 4 | Zone 5 | Zone 6 | Zone 7 | Zone 8 |
A | 4.97 | 5.08 | 5.58 | 7.15 | 7.83 | 8.36 | 9.37 |
B | 5.81 | 6.88 | 8.06 | 10.51 | 12.29 | 13.12 | 14.62 |
- For domestic use only
- For Priority Mail Commercial Base and Commercial Plus customers
- Priority Mail Regional Rate Box prices are based on which box is used and zone to which sent
- Priority Mail Regional Rate Box A has a 15-pound weight limit
- Priority Mail Regional Rate Box B has a 20-pound weight limit
- Side-loaded and top-loaded options are available for both Box A and Box B
- For Priority Mail Commercial Base and Commercial Plus customers
- Priority Mail Regional Rate Box prices are based on which box is used and zone to which sent
- Priority Mail Regional Rate Box A has a 15-pound weight limit
- Priority Mail Regional Rate Box B has a 20-pound weight limit
- Side-loaded and top-loaded options are available for both Box A and Box B
Supplies
Get free Priority Mail Regional Rate Box shipping supplies online at The Postal Store. Shop supplies >
Restrictions
The USPS-produced Priority Mail Regional Rate Box must be used to qualify for Regional Rate Box prices. Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes must not exceed the maximum weight requirements of 15 lbs for Box A or 20 lbs or Box B. If the box exceeds the maximum weight limit for the box type or is taken to a USPS Post Office for acceptance, Priority Mail weight and zone prices will apply. See Priority Mail Pricing.
Find quick answers about Priority Mail Regional Rate Box in our FAQs.
See Priority Mail Regional Rate Box Frequently Asked Questions >
Extra Services
Extra services like Delivery Confirmation, Signature Confirmation, insurance, and other services are available for all Priority Mail Regional Rate Box shipping.
With that being said...Here are the savings/costs associated with the new Regional Rate Boxes. Prices in RED indicate a higher cost than shipping with Weighted Priority.
You can find additional information at the USPS Website.
Get free Priority Mail Regional Rate Box shipping supplies online at The Postal Store. Shop supplies >
Restrictions
The USPS-produced Priority Mail Regional Rate Box must be used to qualify for Regional Rate Box prices. Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes must not exceed the maximum weight requirements of 15 lbs for Box A or 20 lbs or Box B. If the box exceeds the maximum weight limit for the box type or is taken to a USPS Post Office for acceptance, Priority Mail weight and zone prices will apply. See Priority Mail Pricing.
Find quick answers about Priority Mail Regional Rate Box in our FAQs.
See Priority Mail Regional Rate Box Frequently Asked Questions >
Extra Services
Extra services like Delivery Confirmation, Signature Confirmation, insurance, and other services are available for all Priority Mail Regional Rate Box shipping.
With that being said...Here are the savings/costs associated with the new Regional Rate Boxes. Prices in RED indicate a higher cost than shipping with Weighted Priority.
You can find additional information at the USPS Website.
Update Jan. 3, 2010
Just talked to our regional supervisor about the blurb in the Regional Box Information stating:
Restrictions
The USPS-produced Priority Mail Regional Rate Box must be used to qualify for Regional Rate Box prices. Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes must not exceed the maximum weight requirements of 15 lbs for Box A or 20 lbs or Box B. If the box exceeds the maximum weight limit for the box type or is taken to a USPS Post Office for acceptance, Priority Mail weight and zone prices will apply.
She said that what that is saying is that you must print your postage via the Internet. You can then take your package to you carrier with Carrier Pick-up or deliver to the post office, even the front counter and can still get the Regional Pricing. What you can NOT do is pay for it at a counter and get the Regional Pricing savings. She said they are working on clearing up that statement...
Hope it helps!
Ok, so if we use shipping assistant, how do we figure out the correct postage amount for a package we want to mail? Shipping assistant does not seem to have the regional rate boxes as an option.......
ReplyDeleteYes, Shipping Assistant doesn't have this option (it is now Dec 2011) and I can get no help from the USPS (on hold for 45 min. and gave up) after talking to the first customer service person who had no info. This is a great idea, but there are many holes. I still can't figure out how to do a click and ship label for this. AAAAARRRGGGGG.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to me how many sites I have been to trying to find out EXACTLY how to ship using this 'box a or b' stuff and NONE, including this one gives the needed information. You list zones and say 'appropriate box', but nothing says "Texas or California or Illinois" or whatever. Not surprising that the government would come up with such a crazy system that apparently no one can figure out or figure out how to explain it. This was my last hope. Moving on and paying higher shipping, I guess. Waste of time and reading here.
ReplyDeleteDear Fred,
DeleteI can understand how it could be confusing. Hopefully what I say will help.
Regional A Boxes = Ship at 2 lb Standard Priority Mail Rate
Regional B Boxes = Ship at 4 lb Standard Priority Mail Rate
Think of how much it costs to ship 2 lbs to wherever you want. With Regional Rate A, no matter whether you put 2.1 lbs upwards of 15 lbs, you will only pay the equivalent of shipping a 2 lb Priority Mail Standard Box (non flat rate, non regional) or even your own box weighing 2 lbs but via Priority Mail. This is how you can really save money because if you can get 5 lbs into one of those Regional A boxes, you only have to pay a "flat" 2 lb rate. They should've called it the Regional Flat 2 lb Rate instead of Regional A.
Same goes for Regional B. Think of how much it costs to ship 4 lbs to wherever you want (whether you use your own box or theirs for Priority Mail). With Regional Rate B, no matter whether you put 4.1 lbs upwards of 15 lbs, you will only pay the equivalent of shipping a 4 lb Priority Mail Standard Box (non flat rate, non regional) or even your own box weighing 4 lbs but via Priority Mail. This is how you can really save money because if you can get 10 lbs into one of those Regional B boxes, you only have to pay a "flat" 4 lb rate. They should've called it the Regional Flat 4 lb Rate instead of Regional B.
So rule of thumb:
-if you are going to ship something that weighs no more than 2 lbs, don't bother using Regional A (or B). just use standard Priority Mail with the other boxes. If it weighs 2.1 lbs upwards of 15 lbs (and will fit in the Regional A box without being crammed/stuffed), use Regional A.
-if you are going to ship something that weighs no more than 4 lbs, don't bother using Regional B (but if 2.1 to 4.0, Use Regional A). If it weighs 4.1 lbs upwards of 15 lbs (and will fit in the Regional B box without being crammed/stuffed), use Regional B.
Hope that helps.
As mentioned in this article, an individual CANNOT order postage online for Regional Rate boxes etc. from the USPS website; only for "standard" Priority Mail boxes at fixed rates. This is incredibly frustrating. In order to purchase & print Regional Rate postage, one way as also mentioned above is to create an account with Stamps.com, which is not the same as USPS. And there is a monthly fee for the Stamps.com account after a short trial period (~$16/month). They make it very difficult to cancel the account. If anyone has another way to get postage for Regional Rate box shipments without being hooked, please advise: https://stamps.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1412/~/usps-priority-mail-regional-rate-boxes
ReplyDeletePrint it from your PayPal shipping or ebay shipping.
DeleteEven people at the Post Office don't know.
ReplyDeleteI can understand how it could be confusing. Hopefully what I say will help.
ReplyDeleteRegional A Boxes = Ship at 2 lb Standard Priority Mail Rate
Regional B Boxes = Ship at 4 lb Standard Priority Mail Rate
Think of how much it costs to ship 2 lbs to wherever you want. With Regional Rate A, no matter whether you put 2.1 lbs upwards of 15 lbs, you will only pay the equivalent of shipping a 2 lb Priority Mail Standard Box (non flat rate, non regional) or even your own box weighing 2 lbs but via Priority Mail. This is how you can really save money because if you can get 5 lbs into one of those Regional A boxes, you only have to pay a "flat" 2 lb rate. They should've called it the Regional Flat 2 lb Rate instead of Regional A.
Same goes for Regional B. Think of how much it costs to ship 4 lbs to wherever you want (whether you use your own box or theirs for Priority Mail). With Regional Rate B, no matter whether you put 4.1 lbs upwards of 15 lbs, you will only pay the equivalent of shipping a 4 lb Priority Mail Standard Box (non flat rate, non regional) or even your own box weighing 4 lbs but via Priority Mail. This is how you can really save money because if you can get 10 lbs into one of those Regional B boxes, you only have to pay a "flat" 4 lb rate. They should've called it the Regional Flat 4 lb Rate instead of Regional B.
So rule of thumb:
-if you are going to ship something that weighs no more than 2 lbs, don't bother using Regional A (or B). just use standard Priority Mail with the other boxes. If it weighs 2.1 lbs upwards of 15 lbs (and will fit in the Regional A box without being crammed/stuffed), use Regional A.
-if you are going to ship something that weighs no more than 4 lbs, don't bother using Regional B (but if 2.1 to 4.0, Use Regional A). If it weighs 4.1 lbs upwards of 15 lbs (and will fit in the Regional B box without being crammed/stuffed), use Regional B.
Hope that helps.
I ship a lot and usually use the Regional A box. I see the Box 4 and would like to use that but you can't find the option on the USPS website. I called and the rep said do blah blah blah. Well...it's not there and you can't find it. If you want the basics the USPS website is fine but anything else is an exercise in futility. Their customer service peoples are useless.
ReplyDeleteNo matter whether you send your shipment domestically or internationally if you compare international shipping rate you will be able to have a right way to save money and get ideas how shipping can actually be done in a right manner.
ReplyDeleteThank you for some other informative website. The place else may just I get that kind of information written in such a perfect method? I have a venture that I am simply now running on, and I’ve been at the glance out for such info. https://europa-road.eu/hu/gepszallitas.php
ReplyDelete